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- An Open Letter to German Citizens -
We are writing on behalf of a large number of GIs stationed
here in Fulda. We can't rely on the officers of the Fulda Military
Community to speak for us when they consistently work against us,
both on duty and lately off duty too. This is why we EMs and EWs
are bringing this directly to you. . .
Although most of us like Germany itself, it's military life
here which epulis it for us. We don't think we're here tearing up
the countryside in our tracks in either cur interestsrof the interests
of working people in Germany, but in the Interests of the huge hanks
and corporations» When we get into trouble or in fights in town it's
not becuse we hate Germans, but because of the low morale and the
pressure and boredom of a harrassed and meaningless two and a half
year tour of duty.
When German shopkeepers, in conspiracy with the officers of the
Fulda Military Community put their clubs and Gasthauses OFF LIMITS
to GIs, they point the finger at us soldiers as creating the problems
of drugs and fights. We would like to set the matter straight. The
source of the problem is the American military being overseas thirty
years after WW II,, contrary to the common sense and genuine interests
of the working people of both our countries.
After WW II, 'the Marshall Flan invested millions of hard earned
dollars to the advantage of a few« It reestablished the same system
here where the mrney and power gets concentrated in fewer and fewer
hands at the top, just like in the States* Because of these investments
we*ve-heen sent~here to occupy your country and we don't like it.
There are no German troops stationed in our hometowns, and we don't_
feel that American troops should be over here.
We're against us being used in any foreign countries, especially
in wars like Viet Nam., Us being in Germany in used as a threat against
Jrd World countries and people who are fighting to free themselves
from the American power structure. In 1973 when we had to paint our
vehicles sand camoflage, supplied and arms were sent directly from
here te the Middle East,
The US military forces are here for one reason, the protection of
American business and the exploitation of German labor, ressources
and investment possibilities, The German Gov't works in conspiracy
with the.American imperialist military-industrial complex to maintain
this system.
We EMs and EWs^ as workers In uniform, have more in commen
with the harrassed and oppressed people of the world than we do with
our cwn officers. We appeal to all 11^ minded German citizens to
realize why we are here and who really is responsible for tearing up
your land.
Fulda Soldiers Committee

Copyright belongs to the individuals who created them or the organizations for which they worked. We share them here strictly for non-profit educational purposes. If you believe that you possess copyright to material included here, please contact us at asklibrary@wisconsinhistory.org. Under the fair use provisions of the U.S. copyright law, teachers and students are free to reproduce any document for nonprofit classroom use. Commercial use of copyright-protected material is generally prohibited.

Copyright belongs to the individuals who created them or the organizations for which they worked. We share them here strictly for non-profit educational purposes. If you believe that you possess copyright to material included here, please contact us at asklibrary@wisconsinhistory.org. Under the fair use provisions of the U.S. copyright law, teachers and students are free to reproduce any document for nonprofit classroom use. Commercial use of copyright-protected material is generally prohibited.

Owner

Brünn, Harris Watts Collection - Ephemera Soldiers Movements

Full text

- An Open Letter to German Citizens -
We are writing on behalf of a large number of GIs stationed
here in Fulda. We can't rely on the officers of the Fulda Military
Community to speak for us when they consistently work against us,
both on duty and lately off duty too. This is why we EMs and EWs
are bringing this directly to you. . .
Although most of us like Germany itself, it's military life
here which epulis it for us. We don't think we're here tearing up
the countryside in our tracks in either cur interestsrof the interests
of working people in Germany, but in the Interests of the huge hanks
and corporations» When we get into trouble or in fights in town it's
not becuse we hate Germans, but because of the low morale and the
pressure and boredom of a harrassed and meaningless two and a half
year tour of duty.
When German shopkeepers, in conspiracy with the officers of the
Fulda Military Community put their clubs and Gasthauses OFF LIMITS
to GIs, they point the finger at us soldiers as creating the problems
of drugs and fights. We would like to set the matter straight. The
source of the problem is the American military being overseas thirty
years after WW II,, contrary to the common sense and genuine interests
of the working people of both our countries.
After WW II, 'the Marshall Flan invested millions of hard earned
dollars to the advantage of a few« It reestablished the same system
here where the mrney and power gets concentrated in fewer and fewer
hands at the top, just like in the States* Because of these investments
we*ve-heen sent~here to occupy your country and we don't like it.
There are no German troops stationed in our hometowns, and we don't_
feel that American troops should be over here.
We're against us being used in any foreign countries, especially
in wars like Viet Nam., Us being in Germany in used as a threat against
Jrd World countries and people who are fighting to free themselves
from the American power structure. In 1973 when we had to paint our
vehicles sand camoflage, supplied and arms were sent directly from
here te the Middle East,
The US military forces are here for one reason, the protection of
American business and the exploitation of German labor, ressources
and investment possibilities, The German Gov't works in conspiracy
with the.American imperialist military-industrial complex to maintain
this system.
We EMs and EWs^ as workers In uniform, have more in commen
with the harrassed and oppressed people of the world than we do with
our cwn officers. We appeal to all 11^ minded German citizens to
realize why we are here and who really is responsible for tearing up
your land.
Fulda Soldiers Committee